Sliding Power Button Orthogonal Activation for Space Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information handling system mice face challenges in recyclability, durability of scroll wheels and input buttons, power management, audio quality during conferences, and user accessibility to KVM switches.

Innovation Solution

A mouse with a plastic chassis assembled without screws, featuring a variable magnetic scroll wheel and electropermanent magnet buttons for customizable tactile feedback, a motion power switch for efficient power management, and a keyboard with directional microphones and a touchscreen display for enhanced audio capture and KVM control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mouse is built with screws for durable construction, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly and recycling difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical screw fastening with ultrasonic welding technology. The ultrasonic welding process uses high-frequency vibrations to melt and fuse plastic components together, creating strong permanent bonds without requiring screws or other mechanical fasteners. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural integrity and reliability while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling easier recycling of the mouse housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the plastic materials used in mouse construction to enable ultrasonic welding. By selecting specific thermoplastic materials with appropriate melting characteristics and acoustic properties, the housing components can be permanently bonded through ultrasonic energy. This parameter change allows the transition from mechanical assembly to acoustic-thermal welding, improving both manufacturing ease and recyclability while maintaining durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a mouse is built without screws for easier recycling, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential construction robustness issues

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverecyclabilityVSAvoidconstruction robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite plastic materials that are specifically engineered to respond to ultrasonic welding. By using thermoplastic polymers with appropriate viscosity and bonding characteristics, the housing components achieve strong fusion when subjected to ultrasonic energy. This material selection ensures that the screwless design maintains construction robustness equivalent to or exceeding traditional screwed assemblies, while enabling complete recyclability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If traditional mouse buttons are used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to wear and failure over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton functionalityVSAvoidbutton durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical button mechanisms with magnetic field-based input devices. Instead of relying on physical springs, levers, and contact switches that wear over time, the invention uses magnetic sensors and magnetic actuators to detect and respond to user inputs. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear while maintaining ease of operation, as the magnetic interaction provides sufficient tactile feedback and reliable input detection without physical contact between moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances recyclability, durability, power efficiency, audio quality, and user accessibility, providing a more sustainable and user-friendly interaction experience.

Implementation Method 1

electropermanent magnet buttons for customizable tactile feedback

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectropermanent magnet: Electropermanent Magnet

Implementation Method 2

variable magnetic scroll wheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS11907444B1Information handling system mouse with a sliding button that includes orthogonal activation

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system mouse includes a sliding power button on a bottom surface that slides to actuate a power switch on and off. When slid to an on position, the sliding power button is freed to move inward to actuate a tactile button under the sliding power button, such as with an end user inward push. In the off position the sliding power button catches under lip that prevents an inward push at the tactile button. Dual motion of the sliding power button offers intuitive varied end user interactions with a single button structure to save space at the mouse bottom surface.